Ceylon Leaf & Root
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Tea & Spice House · Sri Lanka

Pure Ceylon, from Leaf to Root.

Single-origin teas and true spices, grown across the misty highlands and sun-warmed southern coasts of Sri Lanka — hand-crafted, sealed at source and shared with the world.

Explore the Collection Our Story
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Our Philosophy (01)

For centuries, the island of Ceylon has perfumed the trade winds of the world. At Ceylon Leaf & Root we honour that legacy — plucking only two leaves and a bud, peeling true cinnamon by hand and sun-drying pepper and ginger at their peak — so that every cup, and every pinch, tastes unmistakably of Sri Lanka.

Grown by generations of Sri Lankan growers, pluckers and peelers — crafted with patience, never rushed.

Discover our heritage
  • 1867 The year Ceylon's first tea estate was planted
  • 7 Distinct tea-growing regions across the island
  • 6,000ft Altitude of the island's highest tea gardens
  • 100% Pure Ceylon — never blended with other origins

The Leaf & Root Promise

  • Single Origin

    Every leaf and every spice is grown in the soils of Sri Lanka and traceable to its region.

  • Hand Harvested

    Plucked, peeled and picked by skilled hands, at exactly the right moment.

  • Nothing Added

    No fillers, colourings or artificial flavours. Only what nature intended.

  • Sealed at Source

    Packed in Sri Lanka to lock in freshness, aroma and character.

The Collection (02)

Treasures of the Island

From high-grown teas to true cinnamon and bold black pepper — each of our products is grown, harvested and crafted in Sri Lanka, then sealed at source for the journey to your door.

The Cinnamon Story (03)

True cinnamon, native to Ceylon.

Cinnamomum verum — true cinnamon — is native to Sri Lanka, where it has been cultivated and hand-peeled for centuries. Much of the "cinnamon" sold around the world is actually cassia: a harsher, thicker cousin. Here is how to tell them apart.

CeylonMany paper-thin layers, hand-rolled into a delicate quill
CassiaOne thick, hard layer of bark, curled on itself
Attribute Ceylon (true) Cassia
Botanical name Cinnamomum verum Cinnamomum cassia
Texture Delicate, brittle, easily crumbled Hard, woody, difficult to grind
Colour Soft tan-brown Dark reddish-brown
Flavour Sweet and subtle, with citrus & floral notes Strong, spicy and one-dimensional
Coumarin Trace levels Significantly higher

Graded by hand, by the diameter of the quill

  1. Alba

    The rarest and finest: pencil-thin quills of the most tender bark.

  2. Continental

    Slender, elegant quills, long prized in European kitchens.

  3. Mexican

    Medium quills with a rich aroma, beloved across Latin America.

  4. Hamburg

    Robust, thicker quills with a bolder, warming character.

Origins (04)

One island, endless terroirs.

From mist-veiled peaks above 6,000 feet to the warm, humid south, Sri Lanka's microclimates give each of our teas and spices a character all of its own.

    High Grown

    Nuwara Eliya

    1,800 – 2,200 m

      Elevation
      06001,2001,8002,400 m

      The Craft (05)

      From leaf to cup, by hand.

      I — Cultivate

      Rooted in the island

      Our teas and spices grow across Sri Lanka's many microclimates — from cool, cloud-wrapped highlands to warm southern lowlands — tended by families who have worked this land for generations.

      7 agro-climatic tea regions

      II — Harvest

      Two leaves and a bud

      Only the tender top two leaves and an unopened bud are plucked by hand. Cinnamon bark is peeled by master artisans; pepper and cloves are picked at the peak of ripeness.

      100% hand-plucked & hand-peeled

      III — Craft

      Patience, then fire

      Tea leaves are slowly withered in the mountain air, rolled to release their oils, oxidised and fired. Spices are cleaned and gently sun-dried to preserve their precious essential oils.

      12–18 hours of slow withering

      IV — Grade

      Cupped by experts

      Every lot is sorted by leaf size, cupped and graded by experienced tasters, and checked for purity — so that only the finest ever reaches our collection.

      Every lot tasted & tested

      V — Seal

      Sealed at source

      We pack in Sri Lanka, within reach of the gardens, locking in freshness and aroma for the long voyage from our island to your cup.

      Fresh from garden to tin

      Heritage (06)

      A legacy steeped in time.

      1. Antiquity

        The Spice Island

        Long before tea, Ceylon's true cinnamon was treasured across the ancient world, carried by seafaring merchants along the great maritime trade routes.

      2. 1505

        Drawn by cinnamon

        Portuguese ships arrive on the island's shores, lured by the fabled cinnamon of Ceylon — the most coveted spice of its age.

      3. 1658

        The cinnamon coast

        The Dutch East India Company takes control of the coastal lowlands and the lucrative cinnamon trade, later establishing the island's first cinnamon plantations.

      4. 1867

        The birth of Ceylon tea

        James Taylor plants nineteen acres of tea at Loolecondera Estate near Kandy — the beginning of a legend that would make Ceylon the most celebrated name in tea.

      5. 1972

        Ceylon becomes Sri Lanka

        The island takes its ancient name, Sri Lanka — yet "Ceylon" lives on, recognised the world over as the mark of the finest tea.

      6. Today

        Ceylon Leaf & Root

        We carry this legacy forward — sourcing, crafting and sharing the purest teas and spices of our island with tea lovers and kitchens around the world.

      4:00 Ready

      The Ritual (07)

      Brew the perfect cup.

      Great tea deserves a moment of care. Choose your brew, follow our tea masters' guide, and let the timer do the rest.

      Water
      95°C
      Leaf
      2.5g / cup
      Steep
      4min

      Export & Partnerships (08)

      From our island to the world.

      We partner with importers, distributors, retailers and hospitality brands across the globe — supplying authentic Ceylon teas and spices with the consistency, documentation and care that international trade demands.

      • 01

        Bulk & Wholesale

        Export-grade teas and spices in flexible volumes, from sample lots to full containers.

      • 02

        Private Label

        Your brand, our Ceylon. Bespoke packaging, printing and blending — fully managed.

      • 03

        Custom Blends

        Signature teas and spice blends developed with our tasters to your exact profile.

      • 04

        Hospitality & Gifting

        Curated selections for hotels, airlines, cafés and corporate gifting.

      Request a trade catalogue
      • 10 Signature teas & spices
      • 7 Tea regions sourced
      • 100% Sri Lankan origin
      • 24h Trade enquiry response

      Journal (09)

      Notes from the estate.

      View all stories

      Enquiries (10)

      Let's bring Ceylon to your table.

      Whether you are an importer, retailer, hotelier or simply a lover of fine tea, we would be delighted to hear from you. Tell us what you are looking for and our team will respond within one business day.

      Head Office
      Hatton, Sri Lanka
      Phone / WhatsApp
      +94 70 526 0577
      Hours
      Mon – Fri · 8.30am – 5.30pm (GMT+5:30)
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